Adaptive power supply and related circuitry

1. A method comprising: monitoring an output voltage of a power supply, the output voltage used to supply power to a dynamic load; varying a rate of changing an adaptive output voltage reference value; and via a comparison of the output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value, controlling switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: detecting a rate of change associated with the output voltage; and varying the rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value depending on the rate of change associated with the output voltage.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: during a first operational mode, changing the adaptive output voltage reference value by a first step amount so that the adaptive output voltage reference value follows the output voltage; and during a second operational mode, increasing a rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value by changing the adaptive output voltage reference value by a second step amount, the second step amount being greater than the first step amount.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: in response to detecting that the output voltage is greater than the adaptive output voltage reference value for a time duration, increasing a rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein controlling switching operation of the power supply to maintain the power supply output voltage within a voltage range includes: depending on the rate of change associated with the output voltage, switching from operating the power supply in a linear mode to a non-linear mode to produce the output voltage.

6. The method as in claim 5 further comprising: detecting the rate of change associated with the output voltage based on detecting that the adaptive output voltage reference value is greater than the output voltage for each of multiple successive sample times of comparing the adaptive output voltage reference value with the output voltage.

7. The method as in claim 6 further comprising: decreasing the adaptive output voltage reference value for each of the multiple successive sample times.

8. The method as in claim 1 , wherein monitoring the output voltage of the power supply includes detecting a transient condition, the method further comprising: in response to detecting the transient condition, initiating simultaneous activation of high side switches in multiple power converter phases of the power supply to supply additional power to the dynamic load during the transient condition.

9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: controlling an output current associated with the output voltage to be limited to a peak current reference value that varies proportionally with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference value, the peak current reference value used in conjunction with the adaptive output current reference value to maintain the power supply with a substantially constant output impedance; and in a first linear control mode of controlling the output current, adjusting the peak current reference value by a first step amount for each of multiple adjustment cycles; and in a second linear control mode of controlling the output current, adjusting the peak current reference value by a second step amount for each of multiple adjustment cycles, the second step amount being greater than the first step amount.

10. The method as in claim 9 , wherein the second linear control mode provides a faster response for adjusting a magnitude of the output current to maintain the output voltage in the range than does a response associated with the first control mode for adjusting the output current.

11. The method as in claim 9 further comprising: in response to detecting a transient condition in which the dynamic load consumes additional current than can be provided by the first linear control mode or the second linear control mode within a predetermined amount of time, implementing a non-linear control mode including simultaneous activation of at least one high side switch in each of multiple power converter phases of the power supply to provide power to the dynamic load to prevent the output voltage from falling outside the range.

12. A system comprising: a processor; a memory unit that stores instructions associated with an application executed by the processor; and an interconnect coupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the processor to execute the instructions and perform operations of: monitoring an output voltage of a power supply, the output voltage used to supply power to a dynamic load; varying a rate of changing an adaptive output voltage reference value; and via a comparison of the output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value, controlling switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range.

13. The system as in claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further supports operations of: detecting a rate of change associated with the output voltage; and varying the rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value depending on the rate of change associated with the output voltage.

14. The system as in claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: when in a first operational mode, changing the adaptive output voltage reference value by a first step amount so that the adaptive output voltage reference value follows the output voltage; and when in a second operational mode, increasing a rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value by changing the adaptive output voltage reference value by a second step amount, the second step amount being greater than the first step amount.

15. The system as in claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: in response to detecting that the output voltage is greater than the adaptive output voltage reference value for a time duration, increasing a rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value.

16. The system as in claim 12 , wherein controlling switching operation of the power supply to maintain the power supply output voltage within a voltage range includes: depending on the rate of change associated with the output voltage, switching from operating the power supply in a linear mode to a non-linear mode to produce the output voltage.

17. The system as in claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: detecting the rate of change associated with the output voltage based on detecting that the adaptive output voltage reference value is greater than the output voltage for each of multiple successive sample times in which the adaptive output voltage reference value is compared to the output voltage.

18. The system as in claim 17 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: decreasing the adaptive output voltage reference value for each of the multiple successive sample times.

19. The system as in claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: detecting a transient condition; and in response to detecting the transient condition, initiating simultaneous activation of high side switches in multiple power converter phases of the power supply to supply additional power to the dynamic load during the transient condition.

20. The system as in claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: controlling an output current associated with the output voltage to be limited to a peak current reference value that varies proportionally with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference value, the peak current reference value used in conjunction with the adaptive output current reference value to maintain the power supply with a substantially constant output impedance; and in a first linear control mode of controlling the output current, adjusting the peak current reference value by a first step amount for each of multiple adjustment cycles; and in a second linear control mode of controlling the output current, adjusting the peak current reference value by a second step amount for each of multiple adjustment cycles, the second step amount being greater than the first step amount.

21. The system as in claim 20 , wherein the second linear control mode provides a faster response for adjusting a magnitude of the output current to maintain the output voltage in the range than does a response associated with the first control mode for adjusting the output current.

22. The system as in claim 20 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further supports operations of: in response to detecting a transient condition in which the dynamic load consumes additional current than can be provided by the first linear control mode and the second linear control mode within a predetermined amount of time, implementing a non-linear control mode including simultaneous activation of at least one high side switch in each of multiple power converter phases of the power supply to provide power to the dynamic load to prevent the output voltage from falling outside the range.

23. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by a processing device, enabling the processing device to perform operations of: monitoring an output voltage of a power supply, the output voltage used to supply power to a dynamic load; adjusting an adaptive output voltage reference value; and via a comparison of the output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value, controlling switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range.

24. A tangible computer-readable medium as in claim 23 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, enable the processing device to perform operations of: monitoring an output current of a power supply, the output current used to supply power to a dynamic load; adjusting a rate of changing an adaptive output current reference value; and via a comparison of the output current with respect to the adaptive output current reference value, controlling switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range.

25. A tangible computer-readable medium as in claim 24 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, enable the processing device to perform operations of: detecting a transient condition; and in response to detecting the transient condition, initiating simultaneous activation of high side switches in multiple power converter phases of the power supply to supply additional power to the dynamic load during the transient condition.

26. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: adjusting the adaptive output voltage reference value by a first step amount; and based on detecting an increased rate of change associated with the output voltage, increasing a rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value.

27. The method as in claim 26 , wherein increasing the rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value further comprises: adjusting the adaptive output voltage reference value by a second step amount, the second step amount being greater than the first step amount.

28. The method as in claim 1 , wherein controlling switching operation of the power supply further comprises: comparing the output voltage to the adaptive output voltage reference value; and controlling activation of at least one switch in the power supply based on the comparison, activation of the at least one switch controlling a magnitude of the output voltage.

29. The method as in claim 1 , wherein varying the rate of the adaptive output voltage reference value includes: adjusting a magnitude of the adaptive output voltage reference values by different amounts depending on a nearness of the output voltage in magnitude with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference value.